Province III Synod 2026

Artificial Intelligence and the Church: Theology, Discernment, and Practice

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how people access information, produce knowledge, and communicate with one another. For the church, the question is not simply whether these tools are useful, but how they may be quietly reshaping the ways human beings come to understand themselves, the world, and God.

This workshop will introduce a theological framework for thinking about technology and artificial intelligence within the Christian tradition. Drawing on scripture, the history of Christian engagement with technology, and contemporary theological reflection, the session will explore how AI challenges traditional assumptions about knowledge, authority, and human agency.

The morning session will focus on theological and historical framing, introducing a method for interpreting how technologies shape human knowing and religious discourse. The afternoon session will shift to practical engagement with AI tools and a guided conversation about how dioceses and congregations might develop faithful practices and policies for their use.

Participants should leave with both a deeper theological understanding of AI and a set of practical questions and discernment tools they can bring back to their dioceses and congregations.

You’re also welcome to use the following short bio for the announcement:

The Rev. Dr. Michael W. DeLashmutt is Senior Vice President of The General Theological Seminary in New York City, where he also serves as Dean of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd and Assistant Professor of Sacred Theology. An Episcopal theologian and priest, his work explores the intersection of theology, culture, and emerging technologies.

Before coming to General, he held senior leadership roles in theological institutions in both the United States and the United Kingdom, including Sarum College and Luther Seminary. His research and writing range widely across Anglican theology, practical theology, and the ways emerging technologies—from information systems to artificial intelligence—are reshaping how people understand knowledge, authority, and religious life.

His current research explores the theological implications of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies for Christian ministry and formation.

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Host or Publisher Pamela Cochran